asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of appeals against the reassessment of means under the Unemployment Assistance Acts disposed of (a) summarily and (b) by local oral hearing over each of the past two years.

Appeals under the Unemployment Assistance Acts against assessment of means for the first time and against subsequent reassessment of means are not recorded separately. It is possible, therefore, to give figures only of the total number of appeals concerning means which were decided in the past two years. The figures are as follows: in 1959, 1,521 were decided summarily and 5 by local oral hearing; in 1960, 1,457 were decided summarily and 7 by local oral hearing.

18.

asked the Minister for Social Welfare when it is proposed to increase the existing ceiling of means for unemployment assistance purposes; and to what extent the proposed increase will apply.

The question of the raising of the means limits for unemployment assistance purposes is at present under active consideration. It is hoped to complete examination of the matter at an early date. In the meantime, as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible to supply the information sought.